IT takes a village to find the perfect Christmas gift – or, in this case, it takes four. The city’s four holiday markets are ideal spots to power through your gift list – but only if you know where to go and what to look for. Don’t make a move without The Post’s guide to NYC holiday villages.
The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park
Bryant Park, Sixth Avenue at 42nd Street (Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.- 8 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.)
Indulge in some hot cocoa, watch the picture-perfect skaters and shop for local candles from the Long Island Candle Factory, skirts from Animated Closet (below) or tunics and hoodies from Parable Ink – designers Angie and Cora make the elephant- and rhino-printed clothes in their Brooklyn kitchen. Eco-friendly fashionistas will be happy to know that Nahui Ollin recycled- candy-wrapper handbags ($30-$225) have an extensive outpost and the Recycled Planet store has repurposed magazine mosaic bangles ($28).
Grand Central Holiday Fair
Lexington Avenue at 42nd Street (Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.)
When the temperatures topple into the single digits, you’ll be glad to know that the Grand Central shops are all indoors. And while the atmosphere isn’t quite as Currier and Ives as Bryant Park, there are still plenty of cool gift options from the 75-plus vendors. Highlights include the Macbeth Collection, whose whimsical storage bins give the Container Store a run for its money, and Satya Jewelry (right, $68-$345) which uses spiritual symbols on delicate gold and silver necklaces.
Holiday Marke at Union Square
14th Street at Broadway (Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.)
AS far as merchandise goes, Union Square has the usual collection of Himalayan wool knit hats, fingerless gloves and blah home decorations. But Mayan Dreams has some hilarious ornaments – Wonder Woman was our fave – and we love delicious, enormous gingerbread girls and boys and unsweetened, piping hot apple cider.
Holiday Marke at Columbus Circle
Central Park South at Central Park West (Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.)
Jewelry is the standout at the Columbus Circle shops. Chameleon has chunky bangles with large black stones ($25), a set of three skinny bangles with dangling semiprecious gems ($38) and creepy, cool leaf and bug pendants ($250$30), all handmade in Queens. Karen Fairborne has silver, gold and vermeil charm necklaces and earrings ($40-$60) and Cecilia and Javier from Fusing Colors split their time between Argentina and New York shuttling their cool unisex collection of glass-and-leather bangles and rings (right, $20-$40). If you’re hungry, head straight for the enormous chocolate-covered marshmallows on skewers – you will not be disappointed.